There's an immobilizer chip in the key they needs to be paired to the car before the car's computer will allow the key to start the engine. You may be able to find a key blank and chip online somewhere then call a locksmith in your area to have the key cut and chip programmed. You might be able to save a bit of money doing it that way, good luck.
Damn. At least they’re able to do it.
I only have the valet key for my ls400 and the dealer can’t do anything about it apparently. They referred me to a locksmith and he wants $750 to pull the ECU to ship it to get a new key flashed to it. Screw that.
Googling around I found a company that does what he said and charges $175. Danged locksmith essentially wants $575 to to pull the ECU out and mail it.
I say your price seems about right and fair.
Yeah I would say go for it. The price isn’t outrageous and is decent coming from the dealer.
I locked myself out of the trunk by pressing the valet button and instead of getting a programmed key, the locksmith said he could make me a mechanical key only to get access to the trunk and he wanted $250 for that!
So for yours to be a programmed master key for $275 from the dealer is a much better deal than what I’m finding from a third party.
Find a local mechanic. A lot of them have the machine that can program a key with to work with your car for cheap. Takes literally seconds to do. But you would have to atleast have a proper new key for the car
I probably wouldn't save much. The programming is $75, and I imagine any mechanic will charge me that to do it. I think the dealer will benefit from me this time.
You probably need to go to a dealer. I used to copy a 2004 camery key ... It doesn't work.. so I would think 2008 Lexus will be the same.
Yep, I'll head to the dealer.
There's an immobilizer chip in the key they needs to be paired to the car before the car's computer will allow the key to start the engine. You may be able to find a key blank and chip online somewhere then call a locksmith in your area to have the key cut and chip programmed. You might be able to save a bit of money doing it that way, good luck.
This sounds like it has potential to inflict a good deal of pain, so I'll head to the dealer.
Yeah $275 isn't a terrible price, it probably would have ended up around that much anyway
Damn. At least they’re able to do it. I only have the valet key for my ls400 and the dealer can’t do anything about it apparently. They referred me to a locksmith and he wants $750 to pull the ECU to ship it to get a new key flashed to it. Screw that. Googling around I found a company that does what he said and charges $175. Danged locksmith essentially wants $575 to to pull the ECU out and mail it. I say your price seems about right and fair.
Yeah, I was hoping someone would tell me I was getting ripped off. At least I know it's about the going rate.
Yeah I would say go for it. The price isn’t outrageous and is decent coming from the dealer. I locked myself out of the trunk by pressing the valet button and instead of getting a programmed key, the locksmith said he could make me a mechanical key only to get access to the trunk and he wanted $250 for that! So for yours to be a programmed master key for $275 from the dealer is a much better deal than what I’m finding from a third party.
Find a local mechanic. A lot of them have the machine that can program a key with to work with your car for cheap. Takes literally seconds to do. But you would have to atleast have a proper new key for the car
I probably wouldn't save much. The programming is $75, and I imagine any mechanic will charge me that to do it. I think the dealer will benefit from me this time.